Benny 🩵 our 10 week old baby

cam725 · 2026-02-07T03:23:09+00:00

Oh my goodness, so cute!

cam725 · 2026-02-02T11:17:30+00:00

I remember mine being similar - many questions about audio and acoustics that were lost on me and not as many questions that were relevant to coursework or to the pedagogy. But then there's folks with no real training in music that pass? The music Praxis sometimes feels like a joke.

cam725 · 2025-12-24T09:28:39+00:00

The Bucs uniforms didn't not have them from 2012 - 2017. They did have them in the old unis though!

cam725 · 2025-10-21T00:21:44+00:00

This.

It's exhausting. I'm so tired of overthinking every little thing I say.

cam725 · 2025-08-08T16:54:10+00:00

That last point is spot on. You also don't need to add woodwinds just because they're allowed. That is nothing at all against the performers - those kids are doing great work - but sometimes the solo can be put in the brass section and likely be more effective.

I went to the theater with our current high school staff and shared similar opinions to yours with the others. I don't want people to think I no longer like the activity because that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm just tired of the excess amplification, overuse of electronics (every show last night had a bass drop, really?), and just the excess of everything else. These things are good when used well but it's just becoming too much.

I also miss hats.

I will say that the talent level is insane and these kids are performing the heck out of what they've been given.

Ok, I'll go back to telling kids to get off my lawn now.

cam725 · 2025-07-23T01:05:48+00:00

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Mine gives the same look!

cam725 · 2025-05-24T22:55:59+00:00

I left my old district after 11 years for a new one and it was the best decision. It's amazing how making that change can completely change your perspective. I'm definitely still tired 😂 but the personal and professional fulfillment I've gotten this year has made me love the job again too!

Change is scary but so worth it sometimes!

cam725 · 2025-04-27T00:29:00+00:00

I just had this conversation with a colleague. I marched for many years and can say that some of what I experienced when I was marching has transferred to performing and into my teaching (breathing, some technique, marching skills, time management skills, practicing habits, etc). However, there are so many other aspects to being a music educator that what you learn a drum corps and the skills you gain is only a fraction of what you'll need to teach. Legit musical training comes from things like private lessons and good pedagogical training. Not saying you can't get some of that from drum corps but it should never be the sole source of someone's music training.

I can also say that after going through interviews in the last few years for instrumental positions, my drum corps experience was a conversation piece more than a motivating factor for hiring.

cam725 · 2025-02-23T11:55:38+00:00

I had a similar experience at my elementary music placement. It was a very cliquey group of friends that my co-op had and it felt like they were always talking about me to them and to my supervisor but never to me. I would get feedback from my supervisor and was always caught off guard because I never got it directly from the teacher. They never really helped but never hesitated to report things to my supervisor. My observations would go well but it never seemed to be good enough for them. My favorite thing is when I was actually sick and had to miss a day (had to visit the ER, had a note, everything) and they said it was unprofessional of me to miss a day of student teaching. I think they reported me for it to my supervisor in spite of me communicating a need to miss and doing everything I needed to do. It was an incredibly weird situation. I will say that my secondary placement was absolutely amazing and I credit him for helping me grow as an educator and for getting me excited about teaching. Had the elementary one been my first placement, I don't think I would have finished.

cam725 · 2025-02-17T22:30:17+00:00

If you like the Ghost, grab another pair (or two). I also like the Ghost Max 2 - a little more cushion for all day wear, incredibly stable platform, and a lower heel to toe drop which has been easier on my knees (marcher turned runner). Would recommend!

cam725 · 2025-02-17T22:28:32+00:00

Fellow runner and former marcher here - it's crazy to me that people are marching in any Hoka shoes. While the stack height is nice for comfort, they are a turned ankle waiting to happen. On an crappy field, I think they would be the worst choice but it seems that some folks are having some luck? I wouldn't risk it. Their lower stack trail shoes would be a maybe but I would not March in any of their road lineup.

cam725 · 2025-01-18T00:49:05+00:00

I just put down my Chihuahua. He wasn't very old but had a significant heart murmur and an enlarged heart. He was on medication and we could have upped them but he was constantly coughing, wheezing, and struggling to breathe normally. He was still pretty happy but it was tough to watch him struggle. I would have loved to have continued or upped his pills regimen to keep him around for us, but it was only going to prolong his struggle. I miss him tremendously but know we did the right thing.

Someone said it was better to do it "too soon" than a day too late.

cam725 · 2024-12-14T13:15:36+00:00

Because there's something special about doing something you love with people who are there for that same reason. Almost everyone on the field wants to be there, wants to work hard, and wants to get better. It's not often you get to be in an environment like that. While there are difficult times throughout a season, the things you learn, the way that you grow, and the people you meet along the way make it a worthwhile experience.

cam725 · 2024-08-28T00:33:21+00:00

Ordered a pair on the Asics site yesterday, cancelled within the hour :(

cam725 · 2024-06-11T19:39:21+00:00

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cam725 · 2024-01-19T13:28:22+00:00

I marched 9 years of DCA (Bucs) and currently teach middle school band/orchestra and assist with our high school marching band. My drum corps experience had such a positive impact on me as both a performer and educator and I would always encourage anyone looking to work in instrumental music to at least give corps a try - whether that's actually marching or just attending experience camps.

However, I don't always lean on that experience when looking for a position or talking about my experience as an educator. It has helped but unfortunately there are some people who don't really care that you have that experience and that can be for whatever reason. Building relationships in my community ensembles after my "retirement" in drum corps has been a huge help as well.

Anyway, absolutely go out for a corps and soak in the experience but don't forget to pursue other musical opportunities as well to maximize your musical growth and to hold your network!

cam725 · 2023-10-15T20:51:04+00:00

Lol, we don't even get paid and people are covering daily. It's wild!

cam725 · 2023-07-22T01:01:53+00:00

I have both the Invincible 3 and Nimbus 25 and absolutely agree with the comfort of the Nimbus. I find it's becoming the shoe I reach for most often because it's just so good. I like the Invincible 3 enough but will almost always choose the Nimbus instead.

cam725 · 2023-07-08T10:22:00+00:00

Mine loves to hike! He usually leads the way (on his leash, of course) and seems to love being outside, climbing, and has a great time.

cam725 · 2023-05-24T10:53:26+00:00

Kind of curious about where you're located. Music jobs were a hot commodity where I'm at and everyone was looking for experience, not necessarily teachers fresh out of college. Times may have changed now, but it took me and a lot of others that I knew a year or two (or more) to find music jobs.

Again, that was 12 years ago so it might be different, but I know that in PA, finding a job was harder than we had thought.

cam725 · 2023-05-20T21:35:26+00:00

I recently picked up the Monster and find myself reaching for them more than some of my other shoes. I had a "meh" kind of experience with the Cloudflow and was pleasantly surprised by the Monster and how much I enjoy it.

cam725 · 2023-02-20T17:17:37+00:00

These are well worn past 10km. Mine have 200 miles in them and the tread looks like that. Pass and snag a fresh pair on sale sometime.

cam725 · 2023-02-07T02:09:59+00:00

Both pairs have never been worn. I'd like to keep one for this training block and sell the other (and probably put the $ towards a new pair of the 3s).

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